About
Before becoming a golf architect, John Darby was instrumental in ski resort development and founded Southern Lakes Heli Ski, one of Queenstown’s first adventure businesses.
John Darby is a renowned New Zealand golf course architect celebrated for his innovative and environmentally conscious approach to golf course design. Originally trained as a landscape architect at Lincoln University, Darby transitioned from ski resort planning to golf after working on a project with Arnold Palmer at Walter Peak and completing further study in Golf Architecture at Harvard. His career is closely tied to Queenstown, where he became a local fixture after moving there in 1979. Darby's signature projects include Millbrook Resort, Jack’s Point, and The Hills Golf Club—venues that have established Queenstown as a leading golf destination and host of the New Zealand Open. His hallmark is the sensitive integration of courses with the dramatic local topography, emphasizing playability and preservation of natural elements. Darby’s influence extends beyond golf, having contributed to major lifestyle resorts and regional tourism, fostering year-round appeal for the area.
